First Nations Researchers Collective

The First Nations Researchers Collective at Flinders University provides a supportive, reciprocal network to share knowledge, foster collaboration, enhance opportunities, and build capacity for emerging and established Indigenous researchers and HDR students.

About the Collective

The First Nations Researchers Collective at Flinders University (established December 2021) emerged from an iterative co-design process with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, the Office of Indigenous Strategy and Engagement, and Research Development and Support. The Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) is sponsoring the Collective.

All Flinders University researchers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, including Honours and HDR students, are invited to be part of the Collective. The Collective is led by: Associate Professor Natalie Harkin (CHASS, Bedford Park), Research Fellow Lorna Murakami-Gold (CMPH, Alice Springs), Lecturer and PhD Student Azra Coombe (CHASS, Bedford Park), Professor Simon Conn (CMPH, Adelaide), and Lecturer Maddy Bower (CMPH, Katherine). Jen Beaudry (RDS) and Kerry Ludwig (OISE) provide administrative and strategic support.

The First Nations Researchers Collective is now underpinned by the Indigenous Research Strategy. The Collective contributes to Priority 1: Indigenous Research Excellence, Capacity and Leadership.

Key Points

The content and concept will be led by the Indigenous research community.

The teams from the Office of Indigenous Strategy and Engagement and Research Development and Support will collaborate to develop the framework for the program and will provide administrative support.

This co-design approach is critical to the success of the program: It ensures the Indigenous Researcher Collective is shaped by Indigenous voices without adding to the overall workload of Indigenous researchers.

This First Nations Researcher Collective is aligned with Flinders’ Reconciliation Action Plan (Action 10). The Collective is also reflected in, and links to the work of, the Indigenous Research Strategy.

Program Format

Indigenous researchers will get together to discuss specific research- and career-related issues; four sessions will be held each year.

Up to four Indigenous researchers will be leaders in the Collective (identified through Expression of Interest). The leaders will rotate the responsibility of planning and chairing each session.

Indigenous and non-Indigenous presenters will be invited to speak, as appropriate and as decided by the leaders in the Collective.

The sessions of the Collective will virtually connect local with rural and remote researchers with hubs in Bedford Park, Darwin, and Alice Springs. Once per year, the rural and remote researchers will be flown to Bedford Park for an in-person Summit.

Between sessions, we will provide an online forum for interaction and collaboration.